Reconnecting landscape in south-west Western Australia

Reconnected country across south-western Australia, from the karri forest of the south-west corner to the woodlands and mallee bordering the Nullarbor Plain, in which ecosystem function and biodiversity are restored and maintained.

Bushland on the banks of a freshwater pool at Beringa Reserve. Photo: Chinch Gryniewicz.
Our aim is to repair some of the ecological damage inflicted by land clearing and unsustainable land management practices.

Our current work is restoring and reconnecting fragmented habitats in the section of Gondwana Link between the Stirling Range and Fitzgerald River National Parks.

The project was the first of its kind in Australia and is operating in a global biodiversity hotspot. It brings together many partners with complementary skills that benefit the environment and local and regional communities.

Working in partnership

Yarrabee Wesfarmers Reserve, with the Stirling Ranges behind. Photo: Amanda Keesing.
Bush Heritage is a major stakeholder in this initiative and is responsible for buying and protecting areas of remnant habitat. Some of our reserves also have areas of cleared land where revegetation work is reconnecting bushland.

Work in the Stirling Ranges to Fitzgerald River section of Gondwana Link is a partnership between Bush Heritage and the following groups:

Greening Australia works in partnership with landholders, the community, government and business to tackle environmental degradation in a practical, apolitical, scientific way. It has considerable experience in environmental restoration and is committed to large-scale revegetation with native species and the trial of native species for ecologically sensitive industries.

The Fitzgerald Biosphere Group is a non-profit grower and natural resource management group in the Shire of Jerramungup on the south coast of WA. It works with farmers, researchers, industry groups and federal and state agencies to address local production (i.e: diseases, pests and nutrient limitations) and natural resource management issues (i.e: salinity, soil acidification and biodiversity) to ensure the long-term sustainability of the agriculture industry and regional communities.

The Nature Conservancy's mission is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.

Private conservation buyers

Private landholders are contributing to Gondwana Link by buying and managing private conservation properties in the area. Eddy and Donna Wajon purchased Chingarrup Sanctuary 11 years ago, and Bill and Jane Thompson bought Yarraweyah Falls three years ago, becoming the first resident private conservation owners on the project. Under partnership agreements we contribute to annual work programs on their properties.